The new craze of water addicts-body boarding

Body boarding, similar to surfing is a sport which water addicts swear by. It is a form of wave riding, where the body boarder controls and swiftly moves through the waves, while challenging the wave directions and currents. When body boarding, you lie on the board, paddle along and kick your feet to move ahead in the water. In case of huge waves, the body boarder ducks under the water till the waves subside. It is a test of your strength, alertness and flexibility. It is a good sport for beginners in the world of water.

Body board:

The body board is much shorter and easier to handle than a surfboard. It is made up of plastic for flexibility. It has a thick plastic bottom, also known as the slick. The top of the board is made from softer plastic to give the rider a firm grip. The body is called the rail and the front part is called the nose.

Expensive boards are sometimes covered with resin or wood for a polished look. They are handy and can easily be carried around in a car or bus. Available in surf shops and supermarkets and costing anywhere between $20 and $80, their sizes range from 39 to 42 inches.

Equipments required before venturing out:

The body board has a leash attached to it to help the person stay onboard when facing high waves. The leash is to be worn around your arms. While surfing requires you to have high waves, body boarding can be enjoyed even when the waves are slow, smooth and silent. Apart from a body board and a leash, you need to have fins (to help you move, turn around, adjust speed and paddle well), a wet suit (to keep you warm) and fin socks (to protect your feet from blisters).

Tom Morey, the inventor:

Stand-up surfing started way back in the early 20th century thanks to Duke Kahanamoku, who reintroduced surfing to Hawaii, which used to think it was immoral and a waste of time. But the real credit goes to Tom Morey from California who was the designer of the first body board in 1971 while he was surfing in Hawaii. It became an instant rage with the masses and was called Boogie Board and was used extensively in Hawaii and Polynesia. However, the sport has been fast catching up in United Kingdom, Japan, Brazil and Spain where several competitions are being held.

Good form of exercise:

Apart from being a fun activity, it is a great exercise for your hips, arms and legs. It helps tone your upper body. Also, it helps you get rid of tension and is the best sport for anyone who loves to be in the water for a long time.

Make it more interesting:

You can bring innovativeness and change to your regular body board skills by sometimes doing a 360 degree spin, a reverse 360, cutbacks, forward spins, back flips, inverts, forward and reverse spins in the air or sometimes even kneeling or standing on the board. But, you need to really be an expert in body boarding before trying these tricks.

Safety precautions:

It can be a bit dangerous, and you need to be an experienced swimmer before trying out body boarding. Taking tips and help from experts might help. Check the weather and sea conditions beforehand. Always make sure to have body guards or life savers around in case of difficulties. Try not to go too close to the experienced surfers, since they can overpower you or sometimes even run over you. Beware of sharks and sharp rocks which might hurt you. Keep practicing and test the water continuously. Keep looking out for any danger signs and you will be safely and swiftly moving around the waves.